Mail catching and delivering apparatus.



H. J, HEDR GK'Y MAIL GATGHING AND DELIVERING ummrus.

. Patented May 2; 1911;

- s sums-3111521 1.

APPLICATION rum) 52M. 3, 1910.

H. J. HEDRICK. MAIL GATOHING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS. APPLIOATIOH TILEDSEPT. 3, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q (ll-a Patented May 2, 191.1.

H. J. HEDRIOK. MAIL GATCHING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILEDSEPT. a, 1910.

991,444. I Patented May 2, 1911..

Ulhl l fhl ATES HENRY J. I-IEDRICK, OF OLATHE, KANSAS.

MAIL CATGHING All?) DELIVERING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. HEDRIOK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Olathe in the county of Johnson and State of Kansas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail Catching andDeiivering Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail catching and delivering apparatus and myobject is to produce a catching apparatus carried by and normally withina mail car, which can be easily and quickly projected through the dooropening of such car and catch the mail and automatically return to aposition within thecar without any material shock or jar.

A further object is to produce a station delivering apparatus from whichthe catching apparatus of the car will easily and quickly withdraw themail bag and which delivering apparatus when relieved of the mail bagwill swing back to position so remote from the trackway that no part ofthe train or a person leaning out therefrom can come in contact with it.

Vith these general objects in view and others as hereinafter appear theinvention consists in certain novel and peculiar features ofconstruction and organization as hereinafter described and claimed; andin order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a horizontal section ofpart of a mail car equipped with a catching apparatus embodying myinvention, the apparatus being disposed within the car and in folded orinoperative position. Fig. 2, is a similar view with the catchingapparatus projecting from the car in position to re ceive a mail bag ora number of mail bags secured together; said figure also showing indotted lines the position of the parts immediately after. the apparatushas caught the mail bag or bags. Fig. 3, is an elevation of the car andapparatus with the latter in the position shown in full lines Fig. 2,the view being taken from a point within the car. Fig. 4', is a view ofthe apparatus when in the position shown in full lines Fig. 2, takenfrom a point forward of the apparatus. Fig. 5, is a horizontal sectionon the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. September 3, 1910.

Patented May 2, 1911.

Serial No. 580,444.

line VV of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line V1-VI ofFig. 5. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line VIIVII of Fig. 2. Fig.8, is a view looking in the direction of the line of track of a stationdelivering apparatus embodying my invention, said figure showing the bagsupported in operative position by said apparatus. Fig. 9, is an edgeview of the station delivering apparatus looking from the trackway. Fig.10, is an enlarged detail perspective view showing a part of the stationdelivering apparatus and the upper portion of the bag-holding appliance.Fig. 11 is a rear view of the catcher.

Referring now to the drawings in detail where like reference charactersidentify corresponding parts in all the figures, 1 indicates a part of amail car of any suitable or preferred type, and 2 a side door openingthereof. A rigid frame of any suitable type is shown as consisting of apair of horizontal bars 3 arranged by preference in the upper part ofthe car and secured at their outer ends to the adjacent side wallthereof, the inner or major portions of said bars being spaced inwardfrom said wall. The bars are secured at their inner ends upon an uprightor its equivalent 4, and near their outer ends curve around and-bearagainst a strip 5 secured to the side of the car, this strip acting as abrace to stiffen and strengthen the said frame, the latter being alsobraced by a bracket 6 extending upward from the upper bar 3 to the roofof the car and by a standard 7 extending downward from the lower bar 3to the floor of the car. Hinged at 8 to the outer end of the saidstationary frame is a swing frame 9, equipped with a guarded sheave 10,and below said sheave is a well 11 occupied by a weight 12 attached tothe lower end of a cable 13 which extends over sheave 10 and between asheave la and a smaller guard sheave 15 carried by a frame 16 hingedlymounted upon upright 4 between the inner ends of the bars 3 of thefirst-named stationary frame. The hinged frame 16 is of right-angleshape in plan view and near its hinged end is equipped with a wearplate17 for frictional engage ment with a brake 18 carried by the stationaryframe and of such form that when the hinged frame swings inwardly ashereinafter explained, the wear plate thereon will ride upon the brakefor the purpose of gradually checking the speed of such angle frame andthus eliminate any undue pounding or strain upon the hinged frame or thesupporting parts.

Pivoted at 19 to and within the outer ends of the arms of the hingedframe-which by preference is of U-shape in elevation (see Fig. 3)-is acatcher constructed as follows: 20 indicates the body of the catcher,provided with a longitudinal slot 21 and rigid with said body andprojecting outwardly therefrom is a pair-of jaws 22. Bridging said slotnear its outer end and rigid with the body 20 is an outwardly projectingarch 23, and pivoted at its outer end in the outer end of said slot is atrigger 24, the same when set extending divergingly inward with respectto the body 20, as shown in Fig. 2. The trigger is preferably of channeliron and is provided with a leather or equivalent lining 25 againstwhich the mail bag is adapted to strike without injury, the liningprojecting beyond the free end of the trigger as at 26, for the purposeof striking against the body at the proper time and i ncidentallycushioning the action of the trigger and preventing the action of thesame being accompanied by undesirable sound which would occur should themetal part of the trigger strike the body.

Secured to the rear side of the body is a bracket 27 provided with apair of inwardly projecting spring arms 28 which normally bearagainstrectangular projections 29 on the arms of frame 16, for thepurpose of holding the body either yieldingly at right angles to theouter portion of the hinged frame 16 or in alinement with said portion.The bracket 27 is provided with outwardly projecting ears 30 connect-edby a bolt 31 upon which a movable jaw 32 is pivoted, a coiled springconsisting of two members 33 mounted on the bolt 31 above and below jaw32 being secured midway its length to said jaw and at its extremitiesbearing against the body 20, the arrangement being such that the saidjaw tends to swing inward toward the body and between the W. tionary orfixed jaws 22. At. its heel end the jaw 32 is reduced in width at 34: sothat when the free end of the jaw is grasped and pulled outward saidreduced or heel end 3 1 will engage and pass over roll 32, secured inthe channel of the trigger, and enter the channel of the trigger andeventually he arrested by contact with the arch 23. As it clears saidroll the trigger is forced to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5 by thespring 35 interposed between it and bracket 27, the roll being thusdisposed against the outer side of the aw to hold it in opened positionas shown in said last-named figures.

At its hinged end the body is provided with an extension 36, equippedwith a loop 37 and a guide eye 38, the outer end of cable 13 engagingthe said extension and extending through said guide eye and beingattached to said loop.

39 is a segmental ratchet carried by the c):- tension 36, and disposedconcentrically of pivot 19, and 40 is a pawl pivoted 1n the bracket 411secured to the brace bar $2 of the hinged frame 16.

4:3 is a rock shaft journaled in bracket 11 and provided with an arm 14underlying the pawl to raise the same when desired, the outer end of therock shaft being journaled in a bracket 1-5 carried by frame 16, andprovided with an upwardly projectingai'm 46, provided with notches 17and 4:8 for alternate engagement by the resilient handle 49 of and rigidwith said rock shaft, the handle when in engagement with notch 4.7holding the pawl elevated and when in engagement with notch 18permitting the pawl to engage the segmental ratchet 39 either throughgravity or by the action of a spring 50, see Fig. 7.

hen the apparatus occupies its inoperative position as shown in Fig. 1,the weight 12 rests upon a cushion 51 of any suitable character at thebottom of well 12, and the pawl 40 is in engagement with the segmentalratchet 39, to prevent the catcher swinging on pivot 19 toward theopposite side of the car, it being noticed in this connection byreference to Fig. 1, that when the parts oecupy an inoperative or foldedposition within the car, the spring arms 28 are bearing against one ofthe corners or projections :29 and are hence under tension and ready toswing the catcher inwardly the instant the pawl is tripped until thecatcher stands at right angles to the outer portion of frame 16. It willalso be understood that the door 52 of the car will slide back and forthbetween the side wall and the apparatus, as will be seen by reference toFigs. 1 and 2.

Assuming that the car is approaching a station from which mail isexpected and at which no stop is to be made, the mail clerk first movesthe handle 49 from engagement with notch 18 and into engagement withnotch 417, to trip the pawl 4-0 from engagement with the ratchet 39, andpermit spring arms 28 to swing the catcher inward on pivot 19 until thecatcher stands at rightangles to the outer portion of the hinged frame16. He then grasps the free end of the movable jaw 32 and swings it onpivot 31 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown inFigs. 2 and 5, the jaw being held open through the engagement of itsheel end by the roll of the trigger as hereinbefore explained, and thetrigger set by the spring 35. The operator then applies pressure on theinner end of the catcher to force the same outward through the dooropening, the hinged frame 16 swinging in the same direction and at thesame time the resistance of the weight exerts suflicient back pull onthe catcher to swing the same in a forward direction against theresistance of spring arms 28 until said spring arms pass the engagingcorners of projections 29 rigid with frame 16, when said springs bypressure on said parts coiiperate with the weight in such forwardmovement of the catcher until the latter is in alinement with the outerportion of said hinged frame and stands projecting outwardly from thecar at right angles thereto as shown clearly in Fig. 2, it being notedthat when thus arranged the extension 36 of the catcher bears againstthe outer side of the car adjacent to the door opening. The operatorthen swings the handle 49 of the rock shaft out of engagement with notch47 and into engagement with notch 48, and thereby permits the pawl todrop into engagement with the ratchet segment 39. ith the parts in theposition explained, the forward progress of the car results in thetrigger, between the stationary and movable jaws 22 and 32 respectively,striking against a mail bag detachably supported by the stationdelivering apparatus hereinafter described, and under this impact thetrigger is tripped and the spring 33 causes the movable jaw to swinginwardly and clamp the mail bag tightly against the body of the catcher.The impact also causes the catcher to swing on pivot 19 to substantiallythe position shown by dotted lines Fig. 2, and in so swinging to raisethe weight through the pull imposed thereon by cable 13, the ratchetslipping forward under the pawl until the latter is engaged with theratchet near its rear end, so that as the momentum of the movement ofthe catcher is overcome, the weight will gravitate back to its originalposition and thus swing the hinged frame 16 with the catcher and the baginto the car. The operator then grasps and pulls the movable jaw open topermit the bag to drop to the floor and then the catcher may be swung onpivot 19 back to the folded position shown in Fig. 1. It will be,noticed that owing to the fact that the frame which carries sheave 10,bears a hinged relation to the stationary frame, said sheave carriedframe will swing inward slightly when the catcher is swung outwardthrough the door opening, so that the sheave shall face in the directionof the adjacent horizontal portion of the cable at all times except whenthe apparatus is folded to inoperative position, and thus facilitate theoperation of the cable over said sheave.

Referring now to the station delivering apparatus, 53 indicates asuitable support and mounted thereonis a U-shaped bracket 54, in whichis pivoted at 55 a standard 56,

provided at its lower end with an outwardly projecting arm 57 and at itsupper end with a shorter outwardly-projecting arm 57 and at its upperend with a shorter outwardlyprojecting-arm 58, the parts being soproportioned that the standard tends to swing in the direction indicatedby the arrow Fig. 8, such movement being limited by the abutment of arm57 against the side of the support 53. The arm 57 carries alongitudinally extending rod 59 the ends of which extend downward andare secured in any suitable manner to said arm 57 and mounted slidinglyon said rod 59 is a pair of U- shaped clips 60 which are free to slideupon the rod but will bind thereon in the event a tilting pressuretoward or from the pathway of the car is imposed upon them, andslidingly mounted on the rod between the arms of the U-shaped clips areV-shaped grippers 61, susceptible of swinging pivot-ally on the rod 59in a direction parallel with the travel of the car, the said grippersbeing of resilient material for a purpose hereinafter explained.

Secured upon the arm 58 is a bracket 62 and pivoted in said bracket andunderlying arm 58 is a rock shaft 63 providedwith an enlargement 64 atits upper end and a crank arm 65 at its lower end, a spring 66 mountedupon the shaft and bearing at its opposite ends against enlargement 64and bracket 62, tending to prevent accidental rotation of the shaft.

67 is a loop preferably of isosceles triangle form, fitting between arm58 and bracket 62 and capable of swinging vertically and laterally onsaid shaft.

68 is a weight adapted to be suitably guided and connected by a cable 69to an eye 70 rigid with the bracket 62 and at an intermediate point saidcable extends over a guarded sheave 71 mounted at the end of an arm 72projecting inward from bracket 54 and bearing a rigid relation to thesame and to the support 53, said weight when unopposed swinging thestandard to the position shown in dotted lines Fig. 8, a suitablysupported spring 73 being disposed in the path of downward movement ofthe standard to cushion such swinging action.

74 indicates a pair of straps or bands to encircle one or more mail bags75, and 76 is a strap extending upward from one of the straps or bands74 and by preference downward to the other strap to which it is alsoattached, and secured to the upper end of said strap 76 is a U-shapedclip 77 equipped with a grooved sheave 78.

When a number of bags strapped together' as explained are to bedelivered to a passing train without the same coming to a stop orchecking its speed, the bag equipped with the straps as explained isarranged in an upright position between the grippers 61,

the clips 60 being pushed against opposite sides of the bag so that thelatter clasped between the grippers will tend to spread them apart andthus impose a pressure on the clips 60 which will cause the same to bindupon the rod 59. The standard is then swung or may have been previouslyswung to its upright position as shown in full lines Fig. 8. Clip 77 isthen slipped over the arm of the rock shaft 63 and the triangular loopis fitted upon the upper end of said clip to prevent it slipping off theend of said arm 65 as shown most clearly in Fig. 10. As the train passesthe catching apparatus thereof catches the bag between the arms 57 and58 of the standard and exerts a pressure thereon at right angles to arms57 and 58, and as a result of this the grippers 61 swing in thedirection of the movement of the catcher, the arm 65 at the same timeswinging in the same direction, this swinging action of said partscontinuing until the bag is drawn from between the grippers withpractically no friction and the clip 77 is withdrawn from the end of thearm 65, pulling ofi the same at an angle so that the upper end of theclip shall freely ride downwardly out of the triangular loop. Inpractice the catcher removes the bag almost as though it picked it outof the air, no perceptible resistance being offered to its removal in adirection at right angles to rod 59. The instant the bag is withdrawnthe weight 68 swings the frame 56 and the parts carried thereby back tothe inoperative position shown by dotted lines Fig. 8.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced amail catching and delivering apparatus possessing the features ofadvantage enumerated as desirable and I wish it to be understood that Ido not desire to be restricted to the exact details of constructionshown and described as obvious modifications will suggest themselves toone skilled in the art.

I claim .1. A mail bag catching apparatus, comprising a suitablesupport, a frame of substantially right angle form in plan view hingedto said support to swing horizontally, a catcher pivoted to the free endof said frame and also adapted for horizontal swinging movement, andmeans for yieldingly holding thecatcher against swinging movement in onedirection independent of the hinged frame.

2. A mail bag catching apparatus, comprising a suitable support, a frameof substantially right angle form in plan view hinged to said support toswing horizontally, a catcher pivoted to the free end of said frame andalso adapted for horizontal swinging movement, means for yieldinglyholding the catcher against swinging movement in one directionindependent of the hinged frame, and means to lock the catcher to thesaid swing frame when such independent swinging movement ends to permitsaid yielding means to swing the said frame and catcher in a reversedirection to that mentioned.

3. A mail bag catching apparatus, comprising a suitable support, a frameof substantially right angle form in plan view hinged to said support toswing horizontally, a catcher pivoted to the free end of said frame andalso adapted for horizontal swinging movement, means for yieldinglyholding the catcher against swinging movement in one directionindependent of the hinged frame, and a pawl and ratchet mechanism tolock the catcher against independent forward movement thereon.

4. A mail bag catching apparatus, comprising a suitable support, a frameof substantially right angle form in plan view hinged to said support toswing horizontally, a catcher pivoted to the free end of said frame andalso adapted for horizontal swinging movement, a weight, a flexibleconnection suitably guided and attached to said catcher and said weightand adapted when the catcher is swung rearwardly on the said frame toraise said weight, and means to lock the catcher against independentforward movement of the said frame when the said rearward movementterminates to permit the weight to swing the said frame and catcher inthe reverse direction to the independent movement of the catcher.

5. A mail. bag catching apparatus, compris ing a suitable support, aframe of substantially right angle form in plan view hinged to saidsupport to swing horizontally, a catcher pivoted to the free end of saidframe and also adapted for horizontal swinging movement, a weight, aflexible connect-ion suitably guided and attached to said catcher andsaid weight and adapted when the catcher is swung rearwardly on the saidframe to raise said weight, and a pawl and ratchet mechanism to lock thecatcher against independent forward movement of the said frame when thesaid rearward movement terminates to permit the weight to swing the saidframe and catcher in the reverse direction to the independent movementof the catcher.

6. A mail bag catching apparatus, comprising a suitable support, a frameof substantially right-angle form in plan view hinged to said support toswing horizontally, a catcher pivoted to the free end of said frame andalso adapted for horizontal swinging movement, a weight, a flexibleconnection suit-ably guided and attached to said catcher and said weightand adapted when the catcher is swung rearwardly on the said frame toraise said weight, a pawl and ratchet mechanism to lock the catcheragainst independent forward movement on the said frame when the saidrearward movement terminates to permit the weight to swing the saidframe and catcher in the reverse direction to the independent movementof the catcher, and means carried by said frame for tripping the pawlfrom engagement with the ratchet.

7 A mail bag catching apparatus, comprising a suitable support, a frameof substantially right-angle form in plan view hinged to said support toswing horizontally, a catcher pivoted to the free end of said frame andalso adapted for horizontal swinging movement, a weight, a flexibleconnection suitably guided and attached to said catcher and said weightand adapted when the catcher is swung rearwardly on the said frame toraise said weight, a pawl and ratchet mechanism to lock the catcheragainst independent forward movement on the said frame when the saidrearward movement terminates to permit the weight to swing the saidframe and catcher in the reverse direction to the independentmovement-of the catcher, means carried by said frame for tripping thepawl from engagement with the ratchet, and means for securing the pawlin operative or tripped relation to the ratchet.

8. A mail bag catching apparatus, com prising a suitable support, aframe of substantially right angle form in plan view hinged to saidsupport to swing horizontally, a catcher pivoted to the free end of saidframe and also adapted for horizontal swinging movement, yielding meansfor holding the catcher against independent rearward swinging movementon said frame, means to lock the catcher against forward swingingmovement on said frame, an extension for the pivoted end of the catcher,and a flexible connection attached at its opposite ends to the catcherand to said yielding means and extending over the extension, and adaptedwhen the catcher is swung backward on the said frame to be caused bysaid extension to exert a pull upon the said yielding means to enablethe latter when the said rearward movement ends to exert an oppositepull on said flexible con nection and cause the said frame and catcherto swing together in the opposite direct-ion to that mentioned.

9. A mail bag catching apparatus, comprising a suitable support, asuitably supported sheave, a swing frame adapted for horizontal movementand provided with guiding means, a catcher pivoted for horizontalmovement on the swing frame, an extension for the pivoted end of thecatcher, a weight, a flexible connection attached at its opposite endsto the weight and the catcher and engaging said sheave, guiding meansand extension, and means to interlook the catcher to the swing frameagainst independent forward movement of the former.

10. A mail bag catching apparatus, comprising a suitable support, asuitably supported sheave, a swing frame adapted for horizontal movementand provided with guiding means, a catcher pivoted for horizontalmovement on the swing frame, an extension for the pivoted end of thecatcher, a weight, a flexible connection attached at its opposite endsto the weight and the catcher and en gaging said sheave, guiding meansand extension, and a pawl and ratchet mechanism permitting the catcherto swing rearwardly on the said swing frame but interlocking it againstforward movement on said frame.

11. A mail bag catching apparatus, comprising a suitable support, aframe hinged to the support for horizontal movement and provided with avertically-arranged guide sheave, a swing frame hinged to said supportfor horizontal. movement and provided with horizontally arranged guidingmeans a catcher pivoted for horizontal movement on the swing frame, anextension for the pivoted end of the catcher, a weight, a flexibleconnection attached at its opposite ends to the weight and the catcherand engaging said sheave, guiding means and extension, and a pawl andratchet mechanism permitting the catcher to swing rearwardly on the saidswing frame but interlocking it against forward movement on said frame.

12. A mail bag catching apparatus, comprising a suitable support, aframe hinged to the support for horizontal movement and provided with avertically-arranged guide sheave, a swing frame hinged to said supportfor horizontal movement and provided with horizontally arranged guidingmeans, a catcher pivoted for horizontal movement on the swing frame, anextension for the pivoted end of the catcher, a weight, a flexibleconnection attached at its opposite ends to the weight and the catcherand engaging said sheave, guiding means and extension, a pawl andratchet mechanism permitting the catcher to swing rearwardly on theswing frame but interlocking it against forward movement on said frame,means for tripping the pawl from engagement with the ratchet, and meansfor holding the pawl in or out of engagement with the ratchet, carriedby the swing-frame.

13. A mail bag catching apparatus, comprising a suitable support, aframe hinged to the support for horizontal movement and provided with avertically-arranged guide sheave, a swing "frame hinged to said supportfor horizontal movement and provided with horizontally arranged guidingmeans, a catcher pivoted for horizontal movement on the swing frame, anextension for the pivoted end of the catcher, a Weight, a flexitrippingthe pawl from engagement with the ratchet, means for holding the pawl inor out of engagement with the ratchet, carried by the swing frame, andsuitable means for gradually arresting the simultaneous swingingmovement of the swing frame and catcher carried thereby.

14. In a mail bag catching apparatus, a catcher comprising a body,stationary and movable jaws projecting therefrom, a pivoted triggercarried by the body and provided with a channel in its outer face toreceive the heel end of the movable jaw when the latter is opened, adevice in the channel of the trigger to engage the heel end of themovable jaw and hold it open, a spring holding the trigger in set oroperative position, and a compressible lining for and projectingforwardly from the trigger and beyond the free end of the same.

15. In a mail bag catching apparatus, the combination of a framearranged to swing horizontally and of substantially right angle form inplan view, a catcher pivoted to the free end of said frame forhorizontal movement, a part rigid with said frame and provided withflattened faces, one extending transversely of and the otherlongitudinally of the outer portion of said swing frame, and a springsecured to the catcher and adapted when engaging one of said flat facesto hold the catcher at right angles to the said outer portion of theswing frame and when engaged with the other flat face to hold thecatcher in alinement with said outer portion of said frame.

16. In a mail bag catching apparatus, the combination of a framearranged to swing horizontally and of substantially rightangle form inplan view, acatcher pivoted to the free end of said frame for horizontalmovement, a part rigid with said frame and provided with flattenedfaces, one extending transversely of and the other longitudinally of theouter portion of said swing frame, a spring secured to the catcher andadapted when engaging one of said flat faces to hold the catcher atright angles to the said outer portion of the swing frame and whenengaged with the other fiat face to hold the catcher in alinement withsaid outer portion of said frame, and a pawl and ratchet mechanismpermitting the catcher to be swung rearwardly but not forwardly on saidframe.

17. In a mail bag catching apparatus, the combination of a framearranged to swing horizontally and of substantially rightangle form inplan view, a catcher pivoted to the free end of said frame forhorizontal movement, a part rigid with said frame and provided withflattened faces, one extending transversely of and the otherlongitudinally of the outer portion of said swing frame, a springsecured to the catcher and adapted when engaging one of said fiat facesto hold the catcher at right angles to the said outer portion of theswing frame and when engaged with the other flat face to hold thecatcher in alinement with said outer portion of said frame, a segmentalratchet rigid with the catcher and arranged concentrically of thepivotal point thereof, a pivoted pawl carried by the said frame, andmeans to trip and hold the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet.

18. A mail bag delivering apparatus, comprising a suitable support, astandard pivoted to said support and provided at its upper and lowerends with arms projecting in the same direction, independent clipsadjustable longitudinally with respect to the lower arm, resilientgrippers movable with said clips and pivoted to swing at right angles tosaid arm, a vertical rock shaft journaled in the upper end of thestandard and provided at its lower end with a crank arm, a spring forholding said rock shaft against turning movement, a loop engaging saidrock shaft above the crank arm and capable of swinging vertically andlaterally, and yielding means for swinging said standard, to and holdingit in horizontal position.

19. A mail bag delivering apparatus, comprising a suitable support, astandard pivoted to said support and provided at its upper and lowerends with arms projecting in the same direction, independent clipsadjustable longitudinally with respect to the lower arm, resilientgrippers movable with said clips and pivoted to swing at right angles tosaid arm, a vertical rock shaft journaled in the upper end of thestandard and provided at its lower end with a crank arm, a spring forholding said rock shaft against turning movement, a loop engaging saidrock shaft above the crank arm and capable of swinging vertically andlaterally, yielding means for swinging said standard to and holding itin horizontal position, and a spring for arresting and cushioning theswinging movement imparted to said standard by said yielding means.

20. A mail bag delivering apparatus, comprising a suitable support, astandard pivoted to said support and provided at its up per and lowerends with arms projecting in the same direction, independent clipsadjustable longitudinally with respect to the lower arm, resilientgrippers movable with said clips and pivoted to swing at right an glesto said arm, a vertical rock shaft journaled in the upper end of thestandard and provided at its lower end with a crank arm, a clip securedto said strap and fitting and 10 a spring for holding said rock shaftagainst bearing down upon the crank arm of said turning movement, a loopengaging said shaft and projecting up through said loop. rook shaftabove the crank arm and capable In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature,

of swinging Vertically and laterally, and in the presence of twowitnesses.

yielding means for swinging said standard HENRY J. HEDRICK.

to and holding it in horizontal position, in Witnesses: combination withstraps secured to a mail HELEN G. RODGERS, bag clamped between the saidgrippers, and G. Y. TI-IORPE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

